About Safety House

Information about the Safety House program

The Safety House program first commenced in the zone of Wooranna Park Primary School, North Dandenong, Victoria in 1979. In Western Australia, Warriapendi Primary School, Balga commenced the Safety House program in July 1983 and Lesmurdie Primary School commenced in November 1983. Many more primary schools in the Perth metropolitan and WA country areas have become involved in the Safety House program since then.

The Safety House Association of Western Australia Inc. was set up in October 1983 and is an Incorporated Association with full support and co-operation from the WA Department of Education and the Western Australian Police.

The Association carries Volunteer Worker Injury and Public Liability insurance policies that cover all Safety House Committee Coordinators and Committee Members whilst they are undertaking any volunteer work on behalf of the Association. It is strongly recommended that all individual Safety Houses ensure that they have adequate insurance cover for their personal needs. Just as with Neighbourhood Watch WA, being a member of the Safety House program should not make any difference to the resident’s existing insurance cover situation but they are definitely not covered by any Safety House WA insurance policy.

Every adult Safety House community volunteer who is likely to assist a child seeking help at the door is required by law to hold a valid Working with Children Card. The card can be obtained at an Australia Post Office using the application form endorsed by a recognised community organisation giving the applicant a heavily discounted volunteer application fee.

All Safety House WA volunteers and staff aged 14 years and over may also be subject to a mandatory police check as a pre-condition of being registered as a volunteer with the Association. There is no charge to the applicant or to the Safety House Committee for this police check.

The Management Committee is elected by the Association Membership at the Annual General Meeting and includes representatives of major organisations involved in primary schooling and child safety. The Management Committee is responsible for policy and strategic direction of the Association and holds General Meetings each term at which all Members are welcome.

The State Head Office is located in the scenic grounds of Waddington Primary School in Koondoola and employs a small full time staff to coordinate and manage the Safety House program throughout WA. Safety House WA staff work with primary school Parent Associations across the state to establish local Safety House Committees. The Safety House WA Head Office also supplies advice, assistance and resources to local Safety House Committees.

The local Safety House Committee involves their local community in setting up, operating and monitoring Safety Houses in their area. A local Safety House Committee Coordinator runs their local program and has a vitally important role to regularly monitor all Safety Houses in their area. This is to ensure that standards of safety for children are maintained and that Safety House signs are current and clearly visible to any child needing assistance. The local Safety House Committee is also active in the school and community to promote and raise awareness of the benefits of the Safety House program.

Safety House Management Committee

Bill Carruthers - President

Carol Chapman - Treasurer

Jan Semple- Secretary

Amandah-Kayte Lead - Committee Member

Donna Jackson - Committee Member

Jenn Sampson - Committee Member

Thushara Weerakody - Committee Member

Julie Angwin - Committee Member

Teresa Carruthers - Committee Member

Organisational Representatives

Jenny O'Brien - Neighbourhood Watch WA Representative

Bernie Durkin - Western Australia Police Representative

Patrons & Life Members

Ruth Reid - Patron

Stuart Clarke J.P. - Life Member

Brian Bull - Patron

Paul Fildes - Life Member

Statistics

214 - Schools participating in the Safety House program

720 - Local Safety House Committee Volunteers

2,758 - Safety House Households

13,758 - Safety House volunteers

72, 225 School children covered by the Safety House Program

Disclaimer

Whilst the Safety House Association of Western Australia Inc. endeavours to provide accurate material on its website the Safety House Association of Western Australia Inc. disclaims all warranties with regard to this material and there is no guarantee given to accuracy or currency of any individual item on the website.

The Safety House Association of Western Australia Inc. does not accept responsibility for any damage or loss occasioned by the use of the material on the website nor from any access to the website. All access and use is at the risk of the user.

Copyright

The Safety House Association of Western Australia Inc. claims copyright ownership of all material on this website unless expressly stated otherwise. No part of the program, no IMA images, or Safety House WA logos nor the material contained in it, may be copied or further disseminated without the express and written permission of the Safety House Association of Western Australia Inc. Any persons in breach of copyright or any unauthorised use of copyright material will be prosecuted.